Ah, February. The month of Valentine’s Day. Some say Hallmark Holiday, others a perfect time to express the heat between lovers during the cold, cold months of the Northern Hemisphere. One way or another, February 14th means “love” to millions around the world. I say, why stop at love? Why not include the symbol of love, the heart? Find your local romance genre lover and ask her, or HIM, for suggestions. Lots of genre books have a romance as a subplot, if you prefer other genres. Read a history of surgery, namely open heart surgery and heart transplants. If someone shows great courage, don’t people say the person “has heart”? Maybe you want to read about legendary lovers, fictional or real. Maybe you want to give a vampire book a try? They’ve got that blood-lust thing going on and the heart pumps blood. Read an author, or about a topic, you love. Like last time, lots of ways to think about the heart here!
- Romance
- Northern Lights by Nora Roberts
- Something About Emmaline by Elizabeth Boyle
- Beyond a Wicked Kiss by Jo Goodman
- Fantasy Lover by Sherrilyn Kenyon
- Crooked Hearts by Patricia Gaffney
- Match Me If You Can by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
- Agnes and the Hitman by Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer
- Other genre reads with a romance subplot
- Death at Wentwater Court by Carola Dunn
- High Country Fall by Margaret Maron
- Blood Lies by Daniel Kalla
- Murder with Peacocks by Donna Andrews
- The Icarus Agenda by Robert Ludlum
- Legendary Lovers
- The Letters of Abelard and Heloise
- Heloise & Abelard : A New Biography by James Burge
- The Memoirs of Cleopatra: A Novel by Margaret George
- The Romance of Tristan and Iseult by J. Bedier and Hilaire Belloc
- Idylls of the King by Alfred, Lord Tennyson
- Medicine
- Journey into the Heart: A Tale of Pioneering Doctors and Their Race to Transform Cardiovascular Medicine by David Monagan and David O. Williams
- Every Second Counts: The Race to Transplant the First Human Heart by Donald McRae
- The History of Cardiology by L.J. Acierno
- History of the Disorders of Cardiac Rhythm by Berndt Luederitz
- King of Hearts: The True Story of the Maverick Who Pioneered Open Heart Surgery by G. Wayne Miller
- Partners of the Heart by Vivien T. Thomas
- Books with “Heart” in the title
- Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill
- Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult
- Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
- Soldier’s Heart: Reading Literature Through Peace and War at West Point by Elizabeth D. Samet
- The Hearts of Horses by Molly Gloss
- The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers
- Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West by Dee Brown
- Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy by Ally Carter (YA)
- In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex by Nathaniel Philbrick
- The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe
Book A Month Challenge 
[…] saw that the February theme for the Book a Month Challenge is the heart (romance, love, courage, the physical heart, […]
A vampire book plus a love theme equals a book called Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. I think it’s the perfect book for this theme!
Last month I submitted on the last day, don’t worry, I’m getting my act together.
Book: A Dirty Job
Author: Christopher Moore
Genre: Science Fiction?
Age Group: Adult
Relationship to Romance: Tenuous
When you read my review, you’ll think, “Hey, what does that have to do with romance or the heart.” Here are a few reasons: (1) One major subplot, Charlie’s heartache after losing his wife (2) another subplot, his quest to find a new love (3) death and love totally go together (Romeo & Jules) (4) there’s a gay marriage (controversial love?) and (5) who doesn’t love small children that kill with the word “kitty” (except those they kill, of course)?
Check out my review here:
Scratch that link….it will bring you back here. Try this one:
http://healthyreading.blogspot.com/2008/02/dirty-job.html
thanks to a feverish cold, i managed to finish my book in about a week!
Book: The Surgeons: Life and Death in a Top Heart Center
Author: Charles Morris
Genre: Nonfiction
Age Group: Adult
http://maurathelibrarian.blogspot.com/2008/02/bam-feb-2008-surgeons.html
Book: Garcia’s Heart
Author: Liam Durcan
Genre: Fiction
Age Group: Adult
http://mymindonbooks.com/?p=429
Books read:
Amateur Marriage- Anne Tyler
the birth house- Ami McKay
Both absolutely superb.
See http://janeonbooks.edublogs.org for more comments.
I read Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad. My review is here: http://blog.threegoodrats.com/2008/02/february-heart.html
Title: My Life in Dog Years
Author: Gary Paulsen
Genre: Nonfiction
Age Level: Youth
Title: Alice Flagg: The Ghost of the Hermitage
Author: Nancy Rhyne
Genre: Historical Romance/Nonfiction
Age Level: Adult
review url: http://skyork.blogspot.com/
Title: Ophelia
Author: Lisa Klein
Genre: Romance, historical fiction
Age level: YA
http://quietgrrrl.livejournal.com/270002.html
Title: Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
Author: Lisa See
Genre: Psychological Fiction
Age level: Adult
http://www.chelabella.com/blog.htm
Title: The Death of the Heart
Author: Elizabeth Bowen
Genre: Fiction
Age level: Adult
http://august2010.blogspot.com/2008/02/death-of-heart.html
I’m working on my review of AMPHITRYON. I read both the play by Plautus and the same of Moliere. I miss the days when the gods messed with people’s hearts and heads on a regular basis.
Just posted my Feb read…
Book: A Valentine wedding
Author: Jane Feather
Genre: Historical Romance
Age Level: Adult
Here is the link:
A Valentine Wedding by Jane Feather
Book a Month Challenge: February 2008
Title: Every second counts: the race to transplant the first human heart
Author: Donald McRae
Genre: Non-fiction / Science
Age level: Adults
The theme this month was “heart,” and although I think of myself as a romantic, I just couldn’t find a “heart as in love” book to read this month. Thankfully, the non-fiction science book I choose this month didn’t disappoint.
And, before I begin, a random bit of good news. I love my local public library. Love, love, love it. It’s small but with a great open floor plan, my favorite online catalog software, and a nifty self-checkout thing. And the people are so friendly! And it is close! Wonderful.
But back to the review … Every second counts skillfully weaves the story of the four main surgeons involved in the race to transplant the first human hearts in the 1960s. Two of the surgeons began as partners in California before one of the pair moved to Virginia. The other two were “mavericks” in New York and South Africa. In the end, the race was one by as much by happenstance and luck as by preparation and skill. But the preparation, research, and skill is what kept the future of heart transplant alive, leading to the world we have now.
McRae skillfully weaves the stories of the four doctors together into one narrative. He does so while respecting the suspense and mystery of the history, recognizing that not every reader is familiar with the narrative. He also explains the scientific background without being too heavy-handed; even with my limited background in science I felt I understood what was happening enough to follow the story. One special treat–after finishing the book, I took a look at the notes section and was enchanted. McRae documents his research and the background of the book in a very readable narrative, making the notes the part of the story that didn’t fit in the book but that is still important enough to tell.
[…] February challenge was to read and review a book about […]
Book: Telling Tales: Living the Effects of Public Policy
Author: Sheila Neysmith, Kate Bezanson, Anne O’Connell
Genre: Non-fiction
Age level: Adult
My review is here:
http://www.blog.kalda.ca/archives/309
I finally read THE LIFE OF PI by Yann Martel and led it twice for my book discussion groups at the library. Fascinating look at what we humans (and all animals) will do to survive. Even eat hearts–raw! The other love aspect is the fact that Pi practiced three religions at the same time: Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity. He found something that fulfilled him in each of those religions. Of course, adherents of one of those religions demanded that he too choose just one. His plaintive reply under such duress: “I just want to love God!” Great discussion book!
Book: The heart is a lonely hunter
Author: Carson McCullers
Genre: Fiction
Age level: YA/Adult
Mr. Singer, an even-tempered deaf-mute, is the central character. Four other characters in this 1929 Southern town use him as a springboard for all their hopes, fears, and desires, visiting him in his room and spilling out their hearts. Singer lip reads, and keeps his hands thrust deep in his pockets, aching to use them to talk to his friend Antonapolous who’s been sent to an asylum. While all these people talk to him, none of them seems to wonder what Singer actually has to say.
This novel dealt with the pains of adolescence, race relations, issues of modernity, love of all stripes, loneliness and disability with nuance and aplomb. It’s funny, it’s tragic, it’s an insightful study of small town America between the world wars. I’d intended to read this book for years, since the title is undoubtedly catchy. I picked it up at work (library), and got fully engrossed in the first chapter while leaning against a wall, waiting for my coworkers to get their belongings together so I could set the alarm. I finished it the next day.
Book: Heart, You Bully, You Punk
Author: Leah Hagen Cohen
Genre: Fiction
Age level: YA/Adult
My review.
Book: My Beloved Talleyrand
Author: Steve Pieczenik
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: 255
Rating: 2.5/5 stars
My Review
Book: Sweethearts
Author: Sara Zarr
Genre: Fiction
Age level: Teen
My review can be found here: http://libraryliz.blogspot.com/2008/02/young-love-sort-of.html
Title: Voodoo Heart
Author: Scott Snyder
Genre: Short Stories
Age level: Adult
Full review on the Feb 25, 2008 post at http://www.vclblog1.blogspot.com/
Title: The Year of Living Biblically: One Man’s Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible
Author: A.J Jacobs
Genre: Religion / Bible Study / Humor
Age level: Adult
I wanted to read this book anyway so I figured I could sneak it into the them since it’s about a man who tries to learn the Bible by heart. It turns out that Jacobs is a really good guy who has a lot of heart and is a joy to read. He also learns a lot about the love of God and people so this book fits the theme in more ways than I expected.
Read my full review at http://othemts.wordpress.com/2008/02/25/book-review-the-year-of-living-biblically-by-aj-jacobs/
This month’s pick was Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict, by Laurie Viera Rigler. Review is here- http://foodcraftsbooksgirl.vox.com/library/post/books-confessions-of-a-jane-austen-addict.html
I read two romances this month – fun fluff – Getting Rid of Bradley by Jennifer Crusie and a bit more naughty – Sizzling by Susan Mallery.
Reviews here:
http://otterevilreads.livejournal.com/9890.html
Talk about cutting it close. I completely forgot to post in here my choice. Find my choice, a simple poetry anthology here:
http://danceswithbooks.livejournal.com/38016.html
Happy reading.
Dances With Books – nope, you’re not so bad. I finished reading mine yesterday and just posted my review a couple of minutes ago.
Title: Finding Betty Crocker: The Secret Life of America’s First Lady of Food
Author: Susan Marks
Genre: Non-fiction, biography (well, of a fictitious person)
Age Level: Adult
Review posted at http://ellbeecee.blogspot.com/2008/02/book-month-challenge-february-2008.html
Late as usual, but the March challenge is already written!
Title: Hot
Author: Julia Harper
Genre: Romance
Age level: adult
Review: http://younglibrarian.blogspot.com/2008_02_01_archive.html#8995299419673518368
Just under the wire 🙂
Title: The Princess and the Hound
Author: Mette Ivie Harrison
Genre: Fantasy
Age Level: Young Adult
Review
Overdue, but it’s only 5% off my grade, so I’ll cope.
Bennet, Alan. The Uncommon Reader. New York: Farrar, Strous, and Giroux, 2007.
Genre: literary fiction
Age level: adult
Review
Sorry I’m late:
uncagedbird.vox.com/library/post/february-bam.html
Rats–forgot to post over here until the March one came out.
Title: Friday Night Knitting Club
Author: Kate Roberts
Genre: Fiction
Age Level: Adult
http://hedgehoglibrarian.blogspot.com/2008/02/book-review-friday-night-knitting-club.html
Title: Soldier’s Heart
Author: Elizabeth D. Samet
Genre: Nonfiction
Age Level: YA and Adult
Inspirational!
Find my review here: http://theunclassifiedlibrarian.blogspot.com/2008/03/bam-challenge-soldiers-heart-by.html
Title: The Queen’s Fool
Author: Philippa Gregory
Genre: Historical Fiction
Age Level: Adult
Review can be found here:
Apologies for the double posting, the link didn’t format properly…or at all.
Title: The Queen’s Fool
Author: Philippa Gregory
Genre: Historical Fiction
Age Level: Adult
Review can be found here: http://brightsidereading.blogspot.com/2008/03/queens-fool.html
I’m late! Sorry!
Title: Buffalo for the broken heart: Restoring life to a Black Hills Ranch
Author: Dan O’Brien
Genre: Nonfiction memoir
Age Level: Adult, maybe later teen if they’re into eco-issues.
This is a super enjoyable account of restoring a native species (buffalo) to the author’s ranch.
http://bookishbiker.vox.com/library/post/february-bamc-buffalo-for-the-broken-heart.html
My review is now up…I read J D Robb’s Innocent in Death.
Whoops… I originally published this under the wrong month…
Title: Slammerkin
Author: Emma Donoghue
Genre: Fiction
Reading Level: Adult
I picked this book because the main character’s heart belongs to clothing.
You can find my review at:
http://recreationalreading.blogspot.com/2008/03/book-10-slammerkin.html
Title: Heart like water: surviving Katrin and life in its disaster zone.
Author: Joshua Clark
Genre: Memoir
Reading Level: Adult
My review is at: http://weavinglibrarian.blogspot.com/
A little late, but at least I’m still here.
Title: In the Heart of the valley of Love
Author: Cynthia Kadohata
Genre: Fiction
Age level: Adults
See my review.
I’m really late, but at least I’m posting a review.
Title: Austenland
Author: Shannon Hale
Genre: Fiction
Reading Level: Adult (I’d say late teen, too.)
Read the review
I’ve crossed the line into “grossly late,” but it’s done.
Since this is a review and not a booktalk, I don’t have to like it, right? ‘Cause I didn’t.
Oh, stupid me! I didn’t put the info:
Course of the Heart
M. John Harrison
Fiction/’Horror’
Adult
I read One Hundred Million Hearts by Kerri Sakamoto, a book I’ve had on my “to read” list for ages.
I did read it in February, but just got around to posting.
So, yeah, I read the book and wrote the review, then never posted it here. Ooops!
Title: The Ghatti’s Tale: Book One: Finders-Seekers
Author: Gayle Greeno
Genre: Sci-Fi/fantasy
Reading Level: Teen – Adult
http://christajoy.blogspot.com/2008/03/bam-bam.html
[…] February theme was Heart for Challenge #2. I read In the Heart of the Valley of Love by Cynthia Kadohata. The setting is Los Angeles about 50 […]